You are here

Delaware's Coastal Zone, which extends two-miles inland and 150-miles long, is protected by the Coastal Zone Act. The Coastal Zone Act describes how "the coastal areas of Delaware are the most critical areas for the future of the State in terms of the quality of life in the State."

Oil Refinery or Wild Land? The Coastal Zone Act was signed into Delaware Law by Governor Russell Peterson in 1971 as a response to plans by Shell Oil Company to build a refinery near Taylor's Bridge and present-day Blackbird Creek Reserve. The Coastal Zone Act is arguably one of the most important environmental laws in the State of Delaware. It restricts industrial development and requires environmental improvement as a pre-requisite for permitting, preserving enormous tracts of wetlands and shoreline as habitat.

Model for National Conservation Policy: The United States Congress recognized the value and impact of Delaware's Coastal Zone Act, and passed the Coastal Zone Management Act the following year in 1972.

Communities Stand Up to Big Oil: "Delaware's Coastal Zone Act was the first time in the world any community has won such a battle with international oil companies." - Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands in 1971, speaking as Chairman of the World Wildlife Fund.

Future of the Coastal Zone? Despite the specific restraints on new heavy industrial development in the Coastal Zone Act, the new construction of heavy industry has proceeded at an alarming pace during recent years. The upcoming permitting process at the Delaware City Refinery is an area of particular concern, as the Refinery is within our Coastal Zone.

In 2012 we worked hard to protect Atlantic menhaden and we won. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission voted to implement a coast-wide catch limit on this important forage fish, which has been under pressure from the "fish reduction industry" that manufactures paints, lubricants, cosmetics and health supplements. Unfortunately, this commercial species is also an important food source for whales and predatory fish, including striped bass and weakfish. Menhaden support the food chain. If their po

UPDATE: The oral argument originally scheduled for January 23 has been rescheduled to Thursday, Feb 12 at 1:30 pm. The judge is hearing a murder trial and so all parties thought a reschedule would be better.